Giants looking to avenge earlier loss to Eagles
Giants running back Andre Williams, center, is crushed by Philadelphia Eagles inside linebacker DeMeco Ryans (59) and defensive tackle Beau Allen during the first half of a game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP / Michael Perez
Sunday's regular-season finale might not have any impact on the playoffs or the standings, but don't tell the Giants it's meaningless. Not as they attempt to avenge an embarrassing 27-0 loss to the Eagles in Week 6.
"I can't speak for everyone, but I definitely had a bad taste in my mouth after that game," said rookie running back Andre Williams, who made his first career start in that game in Philadelphia. "That was definitely the worst output we've had offensively all year. I think we're excited for an opportunity to have the Eagles again and this time on our turf. Hopefully, we can produce a better outcome."
Right tackle Justin Pugh said: "We didn't score at all, so we definitely have something to prove . . . I'm looking forward to the game, I'm looking forward to getting out there and getting a second chance at them."
The Giants have won three games in a row, just as they had leading into their first meeting with the Eagles. They lost that game -- in which their quarterbacks were sacked eight times and Victor Cruz was carted off the field in tears after tearing his patellar tendon -- and then six more in a row to destroy their season.
Philadelphia, in other words, was the beginning of the end. On Sunday, it will just be the end.
"We owe these guys, especially with the whupping that they gave us the first time around," safety Antrel Rolle said on WFAN. "This game means everything to us at this point."
Fight assessment
Williams said he was not surprised the Giants and Rams wound up in a sideline brawl Sunday, but said there were plenty of players at fault.
"I think the atmosphere going into that game, there was definitely some electricity in the atmosphere," Williams said. "You could feel it out there that it was going to be a physical game. There was a lot of talking over the ball. I'm not sure what the spark was, but I don't think you can point to any one person and say 'This guy started the fight.' There were a lot of bloody hands at the end of it."
Giant steps
Eli Manning needs two TD passes in the final game to match his career high of 31 set in 2011. He also needs eight more completions to match his career high (359, also in 2011) and is 19 yards shy of his fourth career 4,000-yard passing season (which would be his first since . . . 2011). Manning's completion percentage (.641) and passer rating (93.5) are both on pace to be career highs . . . Rookie DE Kerry Wynn's trifecta of a sack, interception and fumble recovery was the first by a Giant since George Martin in 1985 and the first in the NFL since Dane Fletcher of the Bills in 2010 . . . G Rishaw Johnson was signed by Washington off the Giants' practice squad. The Giants replaced him with LB Uani' "Devin" Unga.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
